Matrix-cleaning machine



'April 8, 193.()- ll... LIDDLE 1,753,243

MATRIX CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1926 Patented Apr. S, 193i) UNITED ST MATRIX-CLEANING MACHINE Application fried February e, 192s.Y serial ivojasaao.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a machine which will readily, economically and thoroughly clean matrices of the character employed in linotype andvintertype typesetting machines.

The matrices of these niachines in ordinary use become covered with dust, dirt and grease incident to their passage through the machine and to handling.

use, these matrices are associated with space 1o bands which are inserted between the matrices to produce the necessary spacing inthe finished cast line of type. These space bandscustomarily are lubricated with dry graphite, substantially powdered graphite, which has y been prepared by grinding in oil. Some off( this graphite adheres to the sides, ears andv toes of the matrices.

In order to properlyy pass through the typesetting machines, especiallyvtlie magazines, it is essential that the matrices be clean and substantially free from adhering foreign matter. In order to insure the matrices in use being in this state, it iscustomary to clean them occasionally or atv cutaway forgdistribution, vso' that when stated periods. It is the purpose of the pres-- ent invention to provide an improved means for accomplishing this cleaning.

Any suitable cleansing fluid which will remove the dirt may be employed in order to insure removal of the graphite and cutting grease or oil which may be present on the matrices, but I prefer to employ a liquid including tri-sodium phosphate and sodium cyanide, although this is not essential. I

have found particularly useful a mixture of about ten gallons ofwater with about one pound of tri-sodium phosphate and approximately a half ounce of sodium cyanide.

After the matrices are cleaned they may be removed from the machine and thoroughly to remove the cleansing fluid rinsed with water which preferably is heated after which they may be dried in any suitable manner andreturned to the typeesetting machines for use.

In the accompanying drawings lI have shown one form of machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal,

vertical section;

` Fig. 2 is a transverse, vertical section and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the mechanism.

ing there is'indicated a motor i for revolving kthis shaft 3 through a coupling 5.` 'Ihe shaft 3 passes throughy a tank 6, and mounted -ontheshaft withinthe tanlrare'spiders 7 and 8; As illustrated, the 'spiderseachhave six arms 22 and in each arm is a slot 9, into which iits aibar 10. One end of each bar engagesa slot' 9 in an arm of the spider 7 and a corresponding slot 9 in an armof the spider 8 is engaged by the other end of the bar. Screws 11 may pass through the armsof the spiders 7 and 8 to hold the bars lOlrigi'dly in place. As indicated fmore'clearly in Fig.' 3, thescrews c 11 may have plain reduced portions 12, which pass'through aperturesin the bars 10 so astomore securely hold them in place; The outer edges of the `bars 10 are preferably shaped in crosssection substantially like that por'- tion of the ordinary matrix elevator bar Aof a type-setting machine in which no teethare to end, the matrices being placed close together, but lleaving suiiicient space between them for the entrance of the cleaning fluid.

The bars 10 being removable, permit easy ,j assembly of the matrices thereon.; A bar may be removed and a row of matrices asl sembled thereon by hand. However, for conn venence, I find it better to assemble a rowy of matrices in a suitable elongated containerV c' or holder and then slide a bar into theV combination or keyways of the matrices. In the Y tank 6 a cleaning f luid 14 may lbe placed, preferably rising, as indicated in Fig. 1, so that the distance between the surface ofthe fluid and the axis of the shaft 3 is a roximately the distance between thek axis o the shaft 3 and the screws 11 in the spiders and 8..'

With this arrangement it will be understood that when the shaft is rotated the entire body ofall the matrices carried by the bars may be caused to pass in and through the cleansing Huid 14, or a similarly disposed rinsing iuid.

Any suitable draining mechanism, diagramm'atically shown in Fig. 2,.-such Vas the Y downwardly extending pipe 15, Vmay .be employed for removing the fluid when it has served its purpose.

A cover forthe tank -6 preferably will be employed. In the drawings I have shown such a cover 16 having downwardly extending sides 17 fitting within ,the .tank 6 and connected at their lower ends to the sides of an -ianched inner :lining 1'8, which: is Iprovided with baffles 19ioveily-ing the spiders `7 Yand. These battles 19 ane clearlyindicated inFig.; 2 and they preferably yextend :from `end to .fend "df-'the device. So as not 5to complicate the dnaw-ing'they have beenA omitted-from Fig. 1, and vindeed nthey are not essential to my .invention. For .the purposes .offinspection :and filling,.I prefer to providefatlabont the v4center ofthe cover 16 -an i-npwardl-y extending ltiibe 20 provided with :cap or. cover 2l.

Various changes :in details .ofthe-:mechanism may bemade.

I .claim `as lmy 4invention 1. `.Ina matrix c-leaningmaohina-fa Vrot-atable shaft, fa spider on :thefshaftybars on the spider, :screws -fremovably Iholdingthe vloa-rs in `place, means .for holding matrices son Ythe bars,

atank orholding aiflnid :below `the shaft,

:andme ans f'forrapidlyyrotating the shaft.

52. fcombi-nation, Ya tank, a `bar ,having the sh-ape vof 4 a matrix elevating doar, .means mounting the bar fso that-.it willf'move in a 'path throughthe tank, and means for moving the i bar.

3. In combination,faftank, a barhavifng the shapek of .a matrix elevating bar, means removably mounting the bars@ vthat it vvwill movein `a .path through. the tank, :and means kforqnovingthehar.

. DANIELL. 

